Psalms for the Journey
“Red Rover, Red Rover, Let Susie come over!”, the team shouted as they got closer and held on to each others arms tighter. About 50 yards across the playground, the opposing team, lined up securely with their arms locked, would let go of Susie and send her running at full speed to break through the “enemy’s line”. Susie would think before she ran, looking for weak arms in the line, thinking she could get through. Sometimes it worked and many times it did not. She would bounce off the impenetrable line like a ping pong ball, fall to the ground, laughing…because it was just a game. Failing meant she had to join the enemy line. At the end of the game the team with the most kids won. If you broke through the line, your reward was bringing a kid back with you to your team.
As I read our next Psalm, I am reminded of this playground game. The enemy is consistently trying to break our strong line of faith and trust in God. But locking arms with God, through Jesus Christ, and fully trusting in Him for all of life, we are like a mountain. “Nothing can move it, a rock-solid mountain you can always depend on.” “As mountains encircle Jerusalem, God encircles his people!”, the song reminds us. Wow! This is why we trust God. This is why we believe and strive to behave in His ways for His glory, not worrying about what the enemy will do next, but being alert to his schemes and avoiding them. That’s why we pray, “Lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from all evil.” Jesus taught us this prayer to help us as it helped him while he was on this earth.
Jesus knows and understands what we are going through. Believe, trust, and keep obeying no matter what. We are mountains of rock-solid faith! Jesus commanded us to go and teach others to lock arms with him, too! Let us not forget that!
Psalm 125, The Message
A Pilgrim Song
1-5 Those who trust in God
are like Zion Mountain:
Nothing can move it, a rock-solid mountain
you can always depend on.
Mountains encircle Jerusalem,
and God encircles his people—
always has and always will.
The fist of the wicked
will never violate
What is due the righteous,
provoking wrongful violence.
Be good to your good people, God,
to those whose hearts are right!
God will round up the backsliders,
corral them with the incorrigibles.
Peace over Israel!
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for peace then and peace now. Thank you for building our faith to rock-solid trust because of Jesus, the rock of our salvation. It is on Him we stand! To You be the glory, honor and praise! Deliver us from evil. Let us lock arms with You.
In Jesus Name, Amen
PS…Disclaimer: Red Rover is now outlawed by schools because you can get hurt. So, don’t try this at home.
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 